Ancient Wisdom on Listening Meets Modern AI Challenges

On May 15, 2025, Kim Monson welcomed Brad Beck of Liberty Toastmasters, Ben Williams of Ben’s Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling, and Professor Kurt Gerwitz to explore the timeless art of listening and the modern challenges of artificial intelligence. Ancient Wisdom for Modern Communicators Start listening at 03:03 – Hour 1 Brad Beck, co-founder of Liberty Toastmasters, presents the teachings of Ptahhotep, an ancient Egyptian vizier whose writings on listening remain remarkably relevant today. Drawing from one of the oldest surviving pieces of wisdom literature, Beck shares Ptahhotep’s maxims including “listening benefits the listener,” “only speak when you have something worth saying,” and “he who listens becomes a master of what is profitable.” Beck connects these ancient principles to modern communication challenges, noting how effective listening creates trust and understanding in both personal and professional relationships. He emphasizes the difference between waiting for one’s turn to speak versus genuinely absorbing and responding to what others say. As Jimi Hendrix articulated centuries later: knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens. “If he who listens listens fully, then he who listens become he who understands.” Brad Beck, Co-founder of Liberty Toastmasters, quoting Ptahhotep Consumer Protection in the Trades Start listening at 19:00 – Hour 1 Ben Williams of Ben’s Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling warns listeners about predatory practices plaguing the trades industry. He describes a true story of a woman who received a call from someone claiming to be from Xcel Energy, telling her that her air conditioner was “no longer compliant” and quoting $20,000 for replacement of equipment that was functioning properly. Williams explains the distinction between actual code requirements and high-pressure sales tactics. He notes that new building codes apply to new installations and renovations, not existing equipment that continues to function safely. The veteran tradesman encourages consumers to trust their instincts, ask questions, seek second opinions, and remember that visible water is a clear indicator of an actual leak. “If you don’t have integrity, you don’t have anything.” Ben Williams, Ben’s Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling Navigating the AI Revolution Start listening at 63:00 – Hour 2 Professor Kurt Gerwitz, a professional public speaker and AI researcher, addresses both the promises and dangers of artificial intelligence. He explains how ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Grok represent different approaches to AI, with Elon Musk’s Grok designed to prioritize truth over political correctness in response to Google’s controversial image generation problems. Gerwitz offers a bold prediction: in the near future, it will constitute medical malpractice for doctors not to consult AI systems. Yet he cautions that AI systems can “hallucinate,” generating confident but completely fabricated information. He cites the case of a lawyer who lost his license after presenting AI-generated case law that did not exist. The professor encourages critical engagement rather than blind acceptance of AI outputs, noting that while our conversations are becoming more fact-based through technology, our retention of knowledge may be declining. “First of all, it’s coming at you whether you like it or not.” Professor Kurt Gerwitz, Legacy...